ERROR: Verheijen says RVP would have gone to Bayern or Barca if he had known Fergie was retiring [GETTY]

Verheijen was part of the Netherlands' coaching staff that went to the 2006 and 2010 World Cups and knows van Persie well.

And he has laid into David Moyes and revealed it was a huge wrench for RVP to leave Arsenal but he was desperate to win silverware.

Verheijen said: "Robin isn't stupid, he knows exactly how late [in his career] it is.

CHANGE: Moyes was given the tricky task of replacing Sir Alex Ferguson [GETTY]

“He would definitely have moved but would have more than likely gone to Barca or Bayern”

Raymond Verheijen

"For years he was at Arsenal winning nothing, and then he made the move to Man United so at least he could win some things in his career because he was already in his late 20s.

"He had a lot of loyalty to Arsenal and it was difficult for him - it was a painful move. Ideally he would have finished his career at Arsenal winning some trophies.

"He knew that was not going to happen, so he had to make that move. He made a painful, but brilliant move. He had a very successful first year, wins the title and then thinks 'let's go for the Champions League now'.

"Then, all of a sudden, Ferguson retires." Verheijen told Four Four Two, "How do you think he felt?